This stage leads into the heart of the Karwendel Alpine Park, offering magnificent outlooks over the Achensee lake and impressing with its proximity to the Laliderer Wall. The track from the Lamsenjoch hut to the Lamsenjoch pass is rather exposed, and needs to be sure of foot and free of vertigo. The greater Ahornboden plateauoffers a comfortable rest.

From the Lamsenjoch Hut, it is possible to see into the Falzurntal valley, which can be reached from Pertisau. The trail winds its way in steep twists from the Gramaialm inn up to the Lamsenjoch Hut. Via Alpina, however, follows the trail to the western Lamsenjoch pass, which can be reached in approx. 30min. Here, the trail branches off to the Gramai-Hochleger and the Sonnjoch peaks. An approx. 1-hour downhill walk first along a hiking path and then on a somewhat broader trail, which should by all means be used because the vegetation in this area has already suffered severely under the numerous short-cuts frequently taken, takes you to the Binsalm meadow, which not only offers fresh buttermilk and small meals but also provides overnight accommodation. The forest road takes you in approx. 30min to the turnoff for the “Abkürzung Alpengasthof Eng” (short-cut for the Eng alpine inn). If you wish to go directly to Alpengasthof Eng, a small, somewhat steeper trail can be taken. Otherwise, it would be better to follow the forest road and reach the Engalm meadow at a leisurely pace. The Eng canyon (Großer Ahornboden or Big Maple Meadow) marks the end of the motorway through the very beautiful Hinterrißtal valley and is an excursion destination for many tourists, although they tend to stop off in the valley or the Binsalm meadow (approx. 2h). From the Engalm meadow, follow the signposts for the Falken Hut. This takes you along a hiking path that leads constantly uphill. At the start, regularly placed park benches invite you to rest and enjoy the view over the Eng canyon and the Hinterrißtal valley. The trail very soon leads into the wood, which casts pleasant shadows over the route. The old maple trees and the colourful alpine flora on both sides of the trail are particularly impressive. After an approx. 40-minute walk, the vegetation gradually becomes lower and already frees up the view over the slopes of the Laliderer Wall. Another 50min takes you to the Hohljoch pass at 1,795m in altitude, from where the Falken Hut can be seen. On the right, you can see down into the Lalidertal valley. It takes approximately another hour to get to the Falken Hut. The walk leads you across the slope below the Laliderer Wall, through which several of the most famous climbing routes in the Eastern Alps lead. The last 15min lead along a forest path uphill to the refuge (approx. 2h 30min from the Eng canyon). (Christina Schwann, OeAV)

Natural and cultural heritage

In stark contrast to the Tuxer Alps, which lie south of the Inn river, the Karwendel mountains mainly consist in Wetterstein limestone and main dolomite (Hauptdolomit). These stone formations bring about the precipitously towering rock faces that were created during the mountain formation process that lasted for more than 100 million years in the Cretaceous Period and the Tertiary. However, the transformation of the mountains is by no means finished. Wind and rain gnaw at the sides of the rock, often breaking off smaller and larger lumps of stone from the walls. The scree-covered slopes of the vast cirque at the foot of the steeply rising flanks are a typical sign of this ongoing erosion, e.g. the Lalidererwände peaks near the Falken Hut. The Große Ahornboden woodland is of particular interest in this day’s stage, at the Eng canyon. The 265ha protected countryside area is characterised by the contrast of the pastureland of the Engalm meadow and the high mountain panorama of the main Karwendel ridge. The valley floor is completely flat. This can be explained by the fact that it was originally the site of a large lake. Layers of clay were deposited on the lake bed, smoothing out any unevenness. The Eng has been used as pastureland for over 1,000 years already. Most of the sycamore maple population probably dwindled during the 30-year war (1618-1648). In the middle of the 19th century, heavy mudslides occurred, turning the pastureland into a real "hunger meadow". By 1930, however, nature had recovered again, even though large quantities of gravel had been deposited in the Engalmbach stream, which finally became blocked. The mighty maple trees are estimated to be 350-600 years old. The ongoing survival of the maples on the Große Ahornboden was a cause of concern for many years, as the roots of the younger plants could no longer reach the water-bearing bed in the subsoil due to the sinking of the groundwater level. And it is still a mystery as to why the entire Große Ahornboden is not populated by any other tree species than the sycamore maple. Speculations can be made on the reasons for this, e.g. the conifers were felled in order to create pastureland, and now no other tree species can grow there due to the relatively heavy pasturing. The trees stand in separate spaces here rather than directly next to each other as in a wood. It almost looks as if each maple tree has established its own sovereign territory. Each tree therefore has its very own history and unique appearance. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)

Other long-distance trails and alternative routes

Ascent of the 2,457m high Sonnjoch pass; a short-cut leads from the forest road to the Binsalm meadow through the wood down into the Eng valley, ending exactly at the Eng alpine inn/cafe. A steep and narrow trail.

Note that all the huts here are full of day-tourists and bikers in the Karwendel area during the high-season. Some huts will not even take a reservation if you don't call at least a week before arrival. If full, you will be put on a mattress on the floor.